Since its launch months ago, the 3Music Awards has steadily garnered enormous traction within Ghanaian showbiz, and among the general public, with many deeming it a strong alternative to the annual Vodafone-sponsored Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs), which has, over decades, served as the main scheme for honouring outstanding Ghanaian musicians.

Highly anticipated, 3Music’s scheme is lauded particularly for the fresh verve it injects into the terrain, with innovative additions to their categories; such as laurels for Best Social Media, DJ f the Year, and Best Fan Army.

The main event is currently scheduled for March 24 at the Fantasy Dome (Trade Fair Centre, Accra). However, it is beset with a number of hurdles which threaten its smooth running, such as possible clashes with VGMA festivities, leading to a conundrum over performing acts, as well as Charterhouse Ghana’s recent marriage with Media General.

The nominees jam for the 2018 VGMAs is slated for the same day as the maiden 3Music Awards. This means possible clashes with acts on the night, many of whom are also expected to be in Cape Cost for the VGMA nominees jam, which clearly possesses the upper hand on all fronts, as it has dominated the scene for a significant while.

Again, Charterhouse’s recent divorce from longtime media collaborator GHOne TV, and subsequent partnership deal with Media General (owners of TV3, 3FM, 3news.com, Connect FM, and Akoma FM), will prove a major challenge for 3 Music.

With pronounced interests in the 3 Music franchise, the Pearl Esua-Mensah – led outfit’s February 26 action –which sees TV3 and its sister stations handed exclusive access to the announcement of nominees and other pre-event rituals, as well as the post-event jam, –leaves many with questions concerning brand loyalty: to 3Music, or Charterhouse and the VGMAs.

As it stands now, the 3Music Awards ceremony is expected to go on as planned. Many industry persons are however not enthused about the unhealthy ambush they have suffered at the hands of the VGMAs.

Sarkodie, Wizkid, Ebony, Shatta Wale, Mr Eazi, Kojo Funds, and Fancy Gadam have all scored nominations in various categories.

Below is the full list of nominees:

MALE ACT OF THE YEAR

1. Shatta Wale

2 Stonebwoy

3 Sarkodie

4 Kidi

5 Fancy Gadam

6. Joe Mettle

7. Kuame Eugene

FEMALE ACT OF THE YEAR

1 Ebony Reigns

2 Becca

3 Joyce Blessing

4 Adina

5 MzVee

6 Sista Afia

GROUP OF THE YEAR

1 VVIP

2 Wutah

3 Galaxy

4 R2Bees

5 Keche

BREAKOUT ACT OF THE YEAR

1 KiDi

2 Patapaa

3 King Promise

4 Kuami Eugene

5 . Kurl Songx

6 Maccassio

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1 Highest by Sarkodie

2 Enko Den – Daddy Lumba

3 DaaVee by MzVee

4 Medikal – Disturbation

5. Unveiling – Becca

6. The Mujahid – Fancy Gadam

SONG OF THE YEAR

1 Ayoo – Shatta Wale

2 My name – Stonebwoy

3 Sponsor – Ebony

4 Pain Killer – Sarkodie feat. Runtown

5 Total Cheat – Fancy Gadam feat. Sarkodie

6 Bo no ni – Joe Mettle feat Luigi McClean

7 Angela – Kuame Eugene

8 Odo – Kidi

9 Oh yeah – King Promise

10 Confessions – Kofi Kinaata

VIRAL SONG OF THE YEAR

1 One Corner by Patapaa

2 Taking Over by Shatta Wale feat SM Militants

3 Confessions – Kofi Kinaata

4 Ladder – Lil Win

5 Bronya – Wutah

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

1 Overdose by Sarkodie feat. Jesse Jagz

2 Be my Woman – Manifest feat Mi Casa

3 Sunshine by Joey B

4 Dream – Kumi Guitar

5 Respek – Captain Planet

6 Makoma – Pappy Kojo

7. Ko-jo Cue, Shaker – Pen & Paper

REGGAE/DANCEHALL ACT OF THE YEAR

1 Stonebwoy

2 Ras Kuuku

3 Samini

4 Ebony Reigns

5 Shatta Wale

HIPLIFE/HIP-HOP ACT OF THE YEAR

1 Sarkodie

2 E.L

3 Guru

4 Medikal

5 M.anifest

6. Yaa Pono

7 Flowking stone

HIGHLIFE ACT OF THE YEAR

1 Lil Win

2 Nana Yaa

3 Kumi Guitar

4 Wutah

5 . Daddy Lumba

6 Becca

GOSPEL ACT OF THE YEAR

1 Piesie Esther

2 Patience Nyarko

3 Joyce Blessing

4 Joe Mettle

BEST COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

1 Taking Over by Shatta Wale feat. Captan, Addi Self & Joint 77 (SM Militants)

2 Pain Killer by Sarkodie feat. Runtown

3 My Baby by Magnom feat. Joey B

4 Total Cheat by Fancy Gadam feat. Sarkodie

5 Bo Noo Ni (No One Else) by Joe Mettle feat. Luigi Maclean

6 Jennifer Lomotey – Kurl Songx feat Sarkodie

7 Tonight – R2bees feat Wizkid

DJ OF THE YEAR

1 DJ Slim

2 DJ Andy Dosty

3 DJ Vyrusky

4 Vision DJ

5 DJ Mic Smith

6. DJ Wobete

7 DJ Kaxtro

FAN ARMY OF THE YEAR

1 Bhim Nation

2 Eliens

3 M.anifans

4 Sark Nation

5 Gadam Nation

6 . High Grade Family

7 SM Family

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS

BEST TWITSTAR

1 Reggie Rockstone

2 Wanlov

3 Shatta Wale

4 Sarkodie

5 . Sister Derby

6 Manifest

7 Stonebwoy

MOST EVENTFUL SNAPCHAT CHANNEL

1 Becca

2 D-Black

3 Medikal

4 KiDi

5 Stonebwoy

6 Shatta Wale

7 Shatta Michy

FACEBOOK STAR OF THE YEAR

1 Criss Waddle

2 Stonebwoy

3 Sarkodie

4 Herty Borngreat

5 M.anifest

6 . Shatta Wale

7. Maccassio

INSTAGRAM STAR OF THE YEAR

1 Joe Mettle

2 Sarkodie

3 Becca

4 Stonebwoy

5 Reggie Rockstone

6 MzVee

7. Sister Debbie

BEST GHANAIAN INTERNATIONAL ACT

1 Big Shaq (U.K)

2 Stormzy (U.K)

3 FUSE ODG

4 Reggie n Bollie

5 Juls

6 Kojo Funds

AFRICAN ACT OF THE YEAR

1 Mr Eazi (Nigeria)

2 Toofan (Togo)

3 Davido (Nigeria)

4 Teckno

5 Mayorkun

6. Runtown

7 . Wizkid